Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Luke
Chapter 10: Go, and Do Thou Likewise
Luke 10 sends the gospel out and calls the heart in. Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them ahead, 'the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few,' and when they return rejoicing that even the devils obey them, He redirects their joy: 'rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.' Rejoicing in the Spirit, He blesses the Father for revealing His truth to babes, and declares, 'no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son.' Then, to a lawyer who asks, 'who is my neighbour?', He tells the parable of the good Samaritan, and turns the question around: 'Go, and do thou likewise.' Finally, in the home of Martha and Mary, He gently corrects the distracted Martha, 'one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part.' The chapter calls His people to labor in the harvest, to rejoice in salvation, to show mercy to whoever is in need, and to sit at Jesus' feet and choose the one thing needful.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Luke chapter 10. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Jesus sends the seventy, tells the parable of the good Samaritan, and teaches Martha and Mary the one thing needful. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
The Harvest Is Great
Jesus sends labourers into the harvest and redirects their joy to heaven.
No Man Knoweth the Son
Christ reveals the Father, and truth is given to babes.
Who Is My Neighbour?
Mercy, not category, makes a neighbour: "Go, and do thou likewise."
One Thing Is Needful
Mary at Jesus' feet chose the good part, above busy distraction.
Rejoice, Because Your Names Are Written in Heaven (Luke 10:1-24)
Jesus sends labourers into a great harvest, redirects their joy to their salvation, and reveals the Father through the Son.
No Man Knoweth the Father, but the Son
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."
Word Study
"the harvest," Greek therismos (θερισμός). The word pictures a ripe field ready to be reaped. Jesus sees the multitudes as "the harvest," souls ready to be gathered, and He says, "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few." The need is not for more harvest but for more workers, so He commands prayer: "pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest." The harvest belongs to the Lord; the labourers are His to send; and the first work of every disciple is to pray Him to thrust out workers into a world ripe and perishing. There is no shortage of harvest, only of harvesters.
Explanation
Jesus appoints seventy others and sends them ahead, and their harvest-labor is bathed in dependence and joy: they are lambs among wolves, carrying little, announcing that "the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." They return rejoicing that even demons submit, but Jesus reorders their joy -- "rejoice... because your names are written in heaven" -- and then Himself rejoices "in spirit," thanking the Father for revealing these things to "babes." He declares that no one knows the Father "but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." To have met Jesus is to have found the only door into the knowledge of God, a privilege prophets and kings longed to see.
Gospel Focus
Jesus widens the mission, sending "seventy" ahead of Him "two and two" to prepare His way, and His words are a charter for gospel work still. The harvest is great and the labourers few, so we must pray for workers. They go "as lambs among wolves," defenseless yet under His care, announcing "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." And their reception is weighty: "He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." To reject Christ's messengers is to reject Christ, and to reject Christ is to reject God, which is why the impenitent cities, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, face heavier judgment than Tyre, Sidon, even Sodom, for they had greater light. When the seventy return "with joy" that "even the devils are subject unto us through thy name," Jesus confirms their authority, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven," but redirects their joy to something greater: "in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Miracles and ministry are not the deepest ground of joy; salvation is. Then, in one of the most beautiful moments in the Gospels, Jesus Himself "rejoiced in spirit," thanking the Father for revealing His truth "unto babes" rather than "the wise and prudent." And He speaks a word of profound depth: "All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." Here is the unique, exclusive knowledge shared between the Father and the Son, and the great truth that no one can truly know God the Father except through the Son. Jesus is the one revelation of the one God; to see and know Him is to know the Father. So the section calls us to labor and pray for the harvest, to rejoice above all in our salvation, and to receive the revelation of the Father that comes only through the Son. Blessed are the eyes that see Him.
Which Was Neighbour Unto Him? (Luke 10:25-37)
A lawyer's attempt to limit the law meets a parable that turns the question of who is my neighbour into a call to be one.
He That Shewed Mercy on Him
"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
Word Study
"neighbour," Greek plesion (πλησίον). The word means the one who is near. The lawyer asked, "who is my neighbour?", trying to draw a line around whom he must love and whom he may ignore. Jesus overturns the question. He does not define a category of "neighbours"; He shows that the neighbour is anyone God brings near you in need, and that the real question is not "who deserves my love?" but "to whom will I be a neighbour by showing mercy?" The lawyer would not even say the word "Samaritan," answering only, "He that shewed mercy." True love does not narrow the circle of neighbour but crosses every boundary of race and religion to help whoever lies wounded in the way.
Explanation
A lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asks "who is my neighbour?" and Jesus answers with the Samaritan -- a despised outsider who does what priest and Levite would not, binding the wounds of a stranger and paying for his care. The story shatters the question: the point is not to define who deserves my love but to become a neighbor to whoever lies in need. "Go, and do thou likewise." And in the Samaritan who crosses every barrier to rescue a half-dead man, the reader glimpses the Saviour Himself, who came to the enemy fallen among robbers and paid in full for his healing.
Gospel Focus
A lawyer, "willing to justify himself," asks how to inherit eternal life, and rightly summarizes the law: love God with all the heart and your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says, "this do, and thou shalt live", which, honestly weighed, condemns us all, for who has loved God and neighbour perfectly? The lawyer, sensing the exposure, tries to narrow his duty: "And who is my neighbour?", hoping to limit whom he must love. Jesus answers with the unforgettable parable. A man is robbed, beaten, and left "half dead" on the Jericho road. A priest and a Levite, the religious professionals, both "passed by on the other side", their religion did not move them to mercy. But "a certain Samaritan," a despised outsider, a member of the very people the Jews scorned, "had compassion on him," and lavished care: binding his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, carrying him on his own beast, paying for his lodging, promising to return and cover all costs. The one the lawyer would least expect proved the true neighbour. Then Jesus flips the question. The lawyer asked "who is my neighbour?", trying to define whom to love; Jesus asks, "which... was neighbour unto him?", making the point that we are not to categorize who deserves our love but to become a neighbour to whoever needs mercy. The lawyer cannot even say "the Samaritan," answering only, "He that shewed mercy." And Jesus commands, "Go, and do thou likewise." This parable has always convicted and moved the church. It exposes a religion that keeps its distance from human need, and it commands a mercy that crosses every barrier of race and rank. And many have seen in the Samaritan a picture of Christ Himself, who found us robbed, wounded, and half dead in our sins, and, when religion and law passed us by, came where we were, had compassion, bound up our wounds, and paid the full price to save us. Having received such mercy, "Go, and do thou likewise."
One Thing Is Needful (Luke 10:38-42)
In a busy home, Jesus gently teaches that sitting at His feet to hear His word is the one thing needful.
Mary Hath Chosen That Good Part
"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Word Study
"cumbered," Greek periespato (περιεσπᾶτο). The word means to be pulled around, dragged this way and that, distracted. Martha "was cumbered about much serving", literally drawn about in every direction by her many tasks. It is a vivid picture of the distracted, over-busy heart, so pulled about by good and necessary things that it misses the one thing needful. Jesus does not condemn her service but her being "careful and troubled about many things," when "one thing is needful." The danger is not activity itself but letting the many good things drag us away from the one best thing: sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing His word.
Explanation
Martha, "cumbered about much serving," resents her sister Mary, who sits "at Jesus' feet, and heard his word." Jesus gently corrects the anxious hostess: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful," and Mary has chosen "that good part." Service is good, but it must flow from sitting at the Lord's feet, not replace it. Luke, who prizes both hospitality and the word, sets the scene so we feel the pull of busy distraction and hear the call back to the one thing that will not be taken away -- communion with Christ.
Gospel Focus
This tender little scene has searched the hearts of busy believers ever since. Martha "received" Jesus into her home, a good and generous thing, and set about "much serving" to honor Him. Her sister Mary "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word", the posture of a disciple, drinking in His teaching. Martha, "cumbered about much serving" and pulled in every direction, grows resentful and complains, "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me." She was not wrong to serve; she was wrong to let serving crowd out the one thing needful, and to judge her sister for choosing it. Jesus' answer is gentle but clear: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Notice He does not rebuke service, but distraction, being "careful and troubled about many things" so that the best thing is missed. And He honors Mary's choice: to sit at His feet and hear His word is "that good part," the one thing needful, and it "shall not be taken away from her." Here is a word every generation of Christians needs. There is much to do, much good and necessary service, and it can so pull us about that we neglect the one thing that matters most: time at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him. Service that flows from sitting at His feet is beautiful; service that replaces it becomes anxious, resentful, and dry. Mary chose the better part, not because serving is bad, but because knowing and hearing Christ is best, and it lasts forever. In all your busyness, do not neglect the one thing needful. Sit at His feet, hear His word, and choose the good part that shall never be taken away.
Chapter 10 in Review
Luke 10 sends the gospel out and calls the heart in. Jesus appoints seventy and sends them into a great harvest, "the labourers are few," and redirects their joy from casting out devils to their salvation, "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Rejoicing in the Spirit, He blesses the Father and reveals that "no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son." To a lawyer who asks "who is my neighbour?", He tells the parable of the good Samaritan and commands, "Go, and do thou likewise." And in Martha and Mary's home, He teaches that "one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part."
For the Apostolic reader the chapter holds together mission, mercy, and communion with Christ. It calls us to labor and pray for the great harvest, to rejoice above all that our names are written in heaven, and to receive the revelation of the Father that comes only through the Son, for Jesus is the one revelation of the one God, and to know Him is to know the Father. It commands a mercy that crosses every barrier, the good Samaritan who is also a picture of Christ, who came where we lay half dead in sin and paid the full price to save us, so that having received mercy we go and do likewise. And it calls us, in all our necessary service, to the one thing needful, sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing His word, the good part that shall never be taken away. Labor in the harvest, show mercy to whoever is near in need, and never let the many good things pull you from the best. Go, and do thou likewise; and choose the good part.
- The harvest is great; pray the Lord to send labourers, and go as His sent ones (10:2-3).
- Rejoice above all that your name is written in heaven (10:20).
- No one knows the Father but through the Son; Christ reveals the one God (10:22).
- Be a neighbour by showing mercy across every barrier: "Go, and do thou likewise" (10:37).
- The good Samaritan pictures Christ, who saved us when religion passed us by (10:33-35).
- One thing is needful: sit at Jesus' feet and hear His word (10:42).
Questions for Reflection
- Are you praying and laboring for the great harvest of souls?
- Does your joy rest most in your salvation, that your name is written in heaven?
- Will you be a neighbour, showing mercy to whoever God brings near in need?
- Amid your busyness, are you choosing the one thing needful at Jesus' feet?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Praying for labourers: Matthew 9:37-38; John 4:35. Names written in heaven: Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27; Hebrews 12:23. The Son revealing the Father: John 1:18; 14:6-9; Matthew 11:27. Loving neighbour and the two great commandments: Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; James 2:8. Sitting at Jesus' feet and hearing His word: Luke 8:35; John 6:63, 68. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The sending of the seventy and the revelation of the Father: Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 9:37-38; 11:20-27.
- The parable of the good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37; Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5.
- Martha and Mary: Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-5; 12:1-3.